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The nation's decisive action to restrict social networking access for young people below 16 is creating waves around the globe. Lawmakers, campaigners, and parents are watching with great interest to see if this approach will inspire imitation for the rest of the world.

The European Trend

In Europe, a rising group of countries are considering parallel restrictions.

• The Danish government has stated a prohibition on social media for youth below 15, with the prime minister stating that mobile devices and apps are "taking away our youngsters' childhood". The policy is expected to be enacted in the coming year.
• Norway is planning to introduce a access barrier of 15, pointing to the need to shield the young from the "power of the AI".
• Ireland is introducing a online verification tool to authenticate the identity and age of social media account holders. Authorities have stated that an Australian-model ban remains "an tools in reserve".
• In Spain, the prime minister has asked parliament to pass a proposal lifting the legal age for using social media to 16.
• In France, the head of state has proposed a ban for those under fifteen, and a parliamentary commission has endorsed a comparable action, including an overnight "internet blackout" for 15- to 18-year-olds.
• The authorities in The Dutch government has recommended guardians to block their children from social media up to the age of 15.

For the broader EU, the European parliament has adopted a non-binding motion demanding a ban for minors unless guardian approval is provided. Although it cautions of the "habit-forming" quality of these apps, the resolution does not enact mandatory rules.

"A strong age barrier is a solid starting point," stated the European lawmaker driving the initiative.

The United Kingdom: A Watchful Stance

For the United Kingdom, the government has not ruled out a future ban, emphasizing that "no measure is discarded" but maintaining any action must be "based on robust data".

Earlier, interest gathered behind a bill to impose limits on social media use by teenagers, but it was in the end modified. However, the government vowed to further research the issue.

Charities have raised apprehensions. A prominent charity established by the family of a girl who was lost after viewing harmful online content suggests that a blanket age ban may not make platforms safer and could create a "sudden drop-off" of exposure when young people become eligible.

"The Australian ban is a reaction to the inability of the social media companies to build products and services that are secure and suitable for young users," commented a influential peer.

The US: A State-by-State Picture

In the United States, action is largely happening at the regional government level due to national stalemate.

• Utah mandates adult approval for under-18s to use social media and controls late-night use.
• Florida has signed a law prohibiting under-14s from accessing social media, though it faces court battles.
• Virginia has passed a rule limiting under-16s to one hour of social media access per day, with additional use needing adult consent.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have also passed laws requiring guardian approval for teenagers to open social media presences.

Even with widespread concern and suggestions from various politicians to mimic the Australian path, a US-wide ban is right now seen as improbable.

Worldwide Views

Beyond Europe and the US, further states are similarly taking action.

• The Malaysian government aims to restrict social media for teenagers starting from next year.
• Brazil has raised the minimum age for Instagram to 16.

But, international bodies take a more nuanced stance. Unicef has warned that social media bans have downsides and "might have unintended consequences". The body points out that online platforms can be a "critical link" for vulnerable children and that regulation should not be a "substitute" for platform operators to invest in user protection.

Even as this worldwide conversation unfolds, the policies of the Australian government and its followers demonstrate that policymakers internationally are increasingly willing to stand by for the industry to act voluntarily.